Discussion:
Morphological variation in placenta is not so uncommon. The variation in anatomy of placenta and its associated vessels frequently complicate normal labor. Various individual, genetic as well as environmental factors interplay in causation of the variation in the placenta. [4] Succenturiate lobe is also a clinically significant morphological variation of placenta arising as a result of interplay between these factors. There are different hypothesis supporting the formation of the succenturiate lobe of placenta. One of the hypotheses emphasizes that a small island of normal villous tissue remains at a distance from the main lobe of placenta forming the succenturiate lobe as the villous tissue between the two lobes atrophies. Other hypothesis states that succenturiate lobe is created when ovum is implanted between sulcus between two walls of the uterus. [4, 5] Succenturiate lobe of placenta can be suspected in time by ultrasonography. However, confirmation of presence of succenturiate lobe by ultrasonography is rare. It is a very challenging task to confirm the findings and requires ruling out conditions like multiple pregnancy, structures like amniotic band and uterine septum. [1, 4]
In this case, presence of succenturiate lobe of placenta was suspected beforehand during antenatal ultrasonography at 34 weeks of gestation and was taken into consideration for emergency cesarean section leading to otherwise uneventful delivery of a healthy fetus.